Women rulers in Maya society

This article is about Maya female rulers specifically. For Maya monarchs in general, see Maya monarchs.
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Maya civilization
Drawing of a Mayan stone carving with elaborate decoration.
History
Spanish conquest of the Maya

During the 6th and 7th centuries in Mesoamerica, there was an evident shift in the roles women played in ancient Maya society as compared with the previous two centuries. It was during this time that there was a great deal of political complexity seen both in Maya royal houses as well as in the Maya area. Warfare was a significant factor in political competition and marriage was one of the ways that alliances were made between the different polities. This was accompanied by a shift in women's roles from wife and mother to playing integral parts in courtly life, such as participating in rituals involving the supernatural world and at times ruling individual polities.

A handful of women are described and depicted on monuments taking on roles and titles that were usually reserved for men.[1] High-ranking titles that both men and women could hold included Ajaw and Kaloomteʼ. The title of Ajaw was seen as "the most general title" that persons of nobility could have if they were born into the right social ranking; meanwhile, the title Kaloomte' has an unclear meaning but it is at the site of Tikal where the title is used as the highest rank.[2]

Among the high-ranking women in ancient Maya society during the Classic Period were several who rose to the position of ruler. Some ruled in their own right, as monarch, due to the lack of a male heir. These women included:

Others ruled as regent until their sons were old enough to rule. These women included:

  1. ^ Miller & Martin 2004:93
  2. ^ Montgomery 2002:201, 203
  3. ^ Baron, Joanne (2017). "The Mystery Queen of La Florida-Namaan". Expedition Magazine. Vol. 59, no. 2.
  4. ^ "The life, death, and afterlife of an ancient Maya king: A study of Pusilha Ruler G". Contributions in New World Archaeology: 269. 2016.